INHF Welcomes Land Stewardship Interns

Each season INHF welcomes a new crop of interns, whether they're in the field or in the office. This week, we are introducing you to our Land Stewardship Interns!

These students will spend the summer working at INHF projects to help maintain and restore the native landscapes. They do this by removing invasive species, shrub removal, prairie planting and other tasks. The interns work closely with landowners, county conservation boards and professionals in the field to learn and grow in their education. They are split into two groups. There are 10 statewide interns who travel to different conversation sites throughout Iowa, and there are four Bluffland interns who more exclusively in upper northeast Iowa.

Name: Alex GustafsonHometown: Waukee, IowaSchool: Iowa State(graduated May 2014)Major: Environmental Science and Political ScienceFavorite thing about nature: Sense of energy you feel and being connected back to the land

Name: Joseph KlingelhutzHometown: Solon, IowaSchool: Iowa State(expected graduation May 2016)Major: Environmental ScienceFavorite thing about nature: The diversity of how different it can be in different places

Name: Derek MinerHometown: Earlham, IowaSchool: Central College(expected graduation May 2015)Major: Biology with a minor in Environmental StudiesFavorite thing about nature: Getting away and seeing a lot of cool things that a lot of people don’t see

Name: Annamarie OesterreichHometown: Ames, IowaSchool: Iowa State(expected graduation December 2014)Major: Animal Ecology with a wildlife and interpretation concentration with a minor in forestryFavorite thing about nature: Sharing and teaching knowledge with people

Name: Kelsey ClampittHometown: East Lansing, MichiganSchool: Drake University(graduated May 2014)Major: Environmental StudiesFavorite thing about nature: The variability of it. You never know what you will see